from another thread ... comment by Dave E. , but probably good to break out: "after a broach, our rudder was not in the water, as such we lost control. Before the rudder landed in the water the helmsman fell, tiller was on the wrong angle, we almost gybed! A very dangerous situation. Luckily we recovered quickly. I remember hearing from the back of the boat "please don't let anyone die!".
By the way, we were all wearing life jackets.
Everyone, please tell your broaching stories!

What I find hard to believe that in the last five years the Vee Jays always [3x] round up starboard in the water. Which means no one can easily get to the Spin Halyard to blow it once we are down. Fortunately we have not been offshore. But it is quite interesting to see us lying on side, but still not over far enough to get water in the cockpit.

Vic, how high were the waves? We were seeing 4 to 6 foot swells. On a downwind leg, with waves coming from behind you, a significant 30+ puff on the wrong side of a wave will cause the rudder to come out of the water.

probably 2-4 in Narragansett Bay ... there is a "slot' in the East Channel that seems to sit there just south of the bridge waiting for me.

roger, roger ... the first thing we do is look back at the rudder to see that it is still attached. then wait a few seconds of righting until we think the rudder will do "something" when it bites into the water. For some reason I try to turn the boat toward the downed spin first, which seems to get the boat up faster.

One time I did end up with water in the cockpit and eel grass around the starboard winch ... duh....

[[ four to six ... neat ... those are my favorites ]]

I don't do anything with the wind dead back in waves ... broad reach is our limit. Your reflex timing starts to go at 27 ... or didn't anyone tell you that?

I think the J/30 max is 35 with a reefed main and the storm jib. We didn't reef our main in 20. Thoughts?

Wish we had statistics and stories from Fastnet!

Dave - here is the Fastnet story on our own website!

Thanks I Bill, I have already read that story. I should of said, I wish they had Kattack and Wind details back in 1979.

Last time we raced in sustained breeze anywhere near what you were seeing was Fall Series 2006. Nor'easter 24-26 true (gusts to 32) for the first race and some breaking waves. Only three boats came out, one with a #3 and no main for the first beat. Two boats had full mains and #3s, but didn't set kites. On the final run of the second race with 22-23 (gusts to 27) we sailed a little high early with the #3 before gybing and setting. Big Kahuna set at the mark and was catching us, but when it came time to gybe had some trouble. PFDs on everyone.

Reef and #3 is OK for 26-30 knots true. Once upon a time we had a second reef and a reefable #3 that was good for 35. When I was much younger we used that on short-handed offshore deliveries to New England.

I guess that's why they say, 'Dinosaurs don't surf'. In the case of a J/30 not for very long anyway. Probably worse in the short steep Pontchartrain chop.